Hot top for ingot molds



Oct. 23, 1928.

Filed Jan. 18, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATT RNEY Oct. 23, 1928.

I 1,689,175 w. H. RAMAGE HOT TOP FOR INGOT MOLDS Filed Jan 18, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY MTORNE? Patented Oct. 23, 1928 UNITED, STATES.'l,689,'l75 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HAIG RAMAGE, OF GIRARD, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR '10 VALLEY MOULD & IRONCORPORATION, OF SHARPSVILLE, PEN N SYLVAN IA A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HOT TOP FORINGOT moLns.

' Application filed January 18, 1926. Serial No. 81,920.

The present invention relates to metallurgy and more especially toequipment for casting steel ingots and comprises a hot top constructionadapted for use with ingot molds.

Her-ctofore in the art hot top construct-ions have usually comprisedtubular tiles whlch were adapted for use only once. The arrangementbeing such that the tile was broken during the casting and strippingoperatlon. The relation ofthe tile to the ingot was such that it wasnecessary to'break the tile to remove it from the ingot. Anotherdisa'dvan: tage heretofore encountered in connectlon with tile hot topshas been due to the fact that the tile does not form a close joint withthe top of the mold. The steel runs into the joint and particles of tileadhere to the ingot and are carried by the ingot in its progress to andthrough subsequent heat treatment; usually heat treatment in the soakingpit at which time the brick particles and the steel melt together sothat the portion of the ingot ad acent the .hot top is contaminated,thereby requiring this part of the ingot to be cropped.

35 It is not unusual for such particles of tile to melt and run downover the sidesof the ingot and fuse'into the steel so that when theingot is subsequently fabricated a largeportion of the whole ingot maybe contammatedhnd cause trouble with the finished product. Anotherdifficulty to be encountered by use of the tile hot tops is theliability of the steel. to

arise into the joint between the tile and the end of the moldso thatwhen the ingot is frozen a substantial flange of steel from the ingotextends out over the end of the mold and with a big-end-down type ofmold this flange interlocks the ingot with the mold so that the ingotsticks in the mold and great difiiculty in stripping is encountered; somuch so that an ingot occasionally cannot be stripped, thereby requiringthe destruction of the mold torelieve the ingot. i

From the foregoing, both from'matters of economy, because of'tliedestruction of the tile for each pour, and because of operatingdifficulties mentioned, tile hot tops are both expensive and troublesomeand are not-used unless necessity in steel manufacture demands them.

The present invention overcomes the difiiculties of the known prior artby providiiig a hot top structure of a relatively permanent type whichmay be removed as a unit after the ingot is poured, Without destructiveeffort, or

it may be securely locked to the mold and remain in place during severalheats of the mold when casting steel ingots, so that the same hot topdevice may be usedover and over again many times and until worn out byusage. Furthermore, the hot top construction comprising the presentinvention is so dei signed as to form an accurate metal joint with theingot mold and thereby prevent the formation of any fins at or adjacentthe hot top structure. Also, the hot top structure of the presentinvention contemplates a device' which is of substantial size and weightso that in effect it practically ,becomes a heat insulating removablesection of the mold set-up and the pouring operation may be carried oncontinuously until the steel rises to the desired height into the hottop, and not interrupted as has been the practice where tile tops haveheretofore been used.

One form of the present invention comprises arelatively heavy cast ironshell pro;

vided with an interlocking portion adapted to form a close metal tometal joint with the mold; and with the interior of the cast iron shelllinedwith suitable refractory material such as, fire brick, which arefixedly and permanently set into the cast iron supporting shelL.Preferably the cast iron shell and the ingot mold are provided withinterlocking guides and securing means so that the hot top assumes adefinite position over the top of the mold in such-manner that any partof the hot top which overhangs the matrix of the mold and which tends toaccumulate scrufi or the like will always occupy the same relativeposition to the matrix of the mold and the scruff accumulated portionwill extend intq the -mold and not be set on top of the mold which mightresult in a bad joint between the hot top section andthe mold bodyproper.

Other and further objects of the present invention will -in part beobvious and will in part be pointed out in the specification hereinafterfollowing by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis application and throughout which like parts are designated bylike-characters.

It is realized thatthe present invention may be embodied inconstructions other than those specificallydisclosed herein andtherefore the disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not inthe limiting sense.

Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred form of the.

present'invention and shows a portion of the:

'2, the mold section proper 1 may be of mold proper and the hot topmember in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the hot top member illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of .a hot top portion having a circular baseflange and with a matrix cross section substantially the same shape asthat of the mold with which this hot top is to be used.

Fig. 4 illustrates the top portion of an ingot mold showing a depressioncut therein comprising a seat for the hot top section.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top of the mold illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 apd t 1e usual type and isprovided at the mouth with a slight depression (see Figs. 4 and 5) whichcomprises a seating surface 2 and a conical or inclined edge 4 adaptedto guide the hot top section into place. This depression in the mouth ofthe mold may be formed in any desirable way, and one convenient way ofproducing this recess is to cut the same by means of a lathe operation.

The hot top section preferably comprlses a substantial shell 5 of castiron or other suitable metal and this shell may be provided with a lowerflange 6 and an upper flange 7. Preferably the lower flange is providedwith a slight extension 8 of sufficient depth to insure that the seatingsurface 9 will always contact with the seating surface 2 on the end ofthe mold to form aclose metal to metal joint between the shell and themouth of the mold. The opening in the shell may be circular as shown inFig. 2 or it may correspond with the shape of the cross section of thematrix ofthe mold 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The interior of the shell islined with suitable refractory 'materiahpreferably arcuate fire bricks10 which may be set in the shellin any desiredmanner but in thepreferred form these bricks are arranged vertically, as shown in Fig. 1.The bricks are laid in ce7- mentitious material 14 capable of standinghigh temperature. This cementitious material a may comprise loam,mortar,etc., but preferabl whit-h fills the crate s between "the fire bricksand leaves a smooth interior to the hot top section; The bricks may beof any desired shape or form but preferably are constructed.

with a-shoulder 11 adapted to set over the inner edge of the lowerflange 6. The upper flange 7 may carry outwardly extending hinge-lugs 12which may carry clamping irons 13 adapted to be engaged beneath the lugs15 on the mold section 1 and swung into position over the hinge lugs 12,where suitable bolt keys 16 may be inserted through the eyes 17 of theseclamping irons to securely lock the hot top'section in position.' Thesebolt keys 16 lie in grooves 23 formed in the upper surface of the hingelocks 12. In 'view comprises a high temperature .cement 14 of the factthat clamping irons 13 engage under the undercut portions of the liftinglugs 15 on the mold and that the wedge key bolts 16 lie in the grooves23 in the hinge locks 12, the clamping irons cannot be acciof the mold.The action of the clamping irons 13 is to produce a compression which atall times holds these two surfaces tightly in contact so that a fin ofsteel cannot formbetween the bottom of the hot top and the top of theniold, and furthermore, since the clamping irons are locked against anylateral disp'lacement,'the hot top and mold are used as a unit forseveral heats without removing the hot top. \Vhere heavy hot tops areused the clamping irons may not be needed, but

preferably the hot top when used with the big-end-down type of mold isso securely locked in position by the clamping irons 13 and keys 16 thatit need not be removed when the ingot is stripped from the mold or whenthe mold is being handled by the crane. The retaining of the hot topfixedly secured on the mouth of the mold tends to lessen breakage of thebricks in the hot top because the mold I body acts to guide the hot topaway from the ingot during stripping, whereas if attempts .be made topick up a hot top from an ingot in the mold, it is not likely to belifted in a perfectly vertical direction and any angular lift imposesforces on the bricks,

tending .to' break the same. In view of the fact that the preferred formof the seat between the mold andthe hot top is circular in character itis desirable that the hot 'top shall be positioned in such manner thatthe under portion of the flange 6, parts of which may overhang thematrix of the mold section 1, shall always be placed in the samedefinite rotative position relative to the mold section 1. This isbecause such overhanging portions may become covered with scruff whichwould make a bad joint if the top be turned in such manner thatthescrufi' should'set upon the mold top. One convenient way of insuringthis definite position is to provide a. tapered dowel pin 18 which maybe set in the mouth 6 on the hot top member, or any other suitableinterlock may be provide From the foregoing, it wil be apparent that thehot top construction comprising'the present invention is substantialincharacter and may be used for a great number of heats without beinginjured or destroyed and in fact comprises an additional section of themold structure.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A hot top foringot molds comprising a cast iron shell the lowermost part of which isa plane bottom adapted to rest on an ingot mold, internally extendingflanges with the upper flange of less diameter than the lower flange,and fire brick permanently cemented between said flanges to form arefractory lining for the hot top, and with a portion of said brickcovering the lateral face of the lower flange.

2. The combination of an ingot mold, a hot top for said ingot mold,saidhot top comprising a metallic shell, a refractory lining carried by saidshell, means to prevent lateral movement of said hot top on said mold,and locking means cooperating with the upper portion of said shell, andwith said ingot mold to lock said hot, top securely in position on saidmold and to place a portion of the side wall of said shellimdercompression forces.

3. The combination of an ingot mold and a hot top therefor'comprising acast iron shell having upper and lower flanges, refractory materialcemented in said shell between said flanges, means to secure said hottop on said mold, means to prevent lateral movement of said hot top onsaid mold, and means to preventrotative movement of said hot top on saidmold.

4. The combination of an ingot mold, a hot top comprisin a metal shelllined with refractory materia a metal to metal unluted joint between themetal shell and the mouth of the ingot mold, and means to lock said hottop to said ingot mold against accidental separation and against lateralmovement and against rotative movement.

5. In combination,a metallic ingot mold provided with a machined seatingsurface on the mouth thereof extending to the matrix of the mold, a hottop comprising a'metal shell 7 provided on its base with a machinedsurface adapted to form an unluted metal to metal joint with the seatingsurface on the end of the ingot mold, a refractory lining for said hottop, and means to permanently lock said i hot top to said ingot mold.

6. 'In combination, a cast iron ingot mold having a substantially smoothseating surface on'the end of themold, a hot top member comprising ametal frame, said frame having a bottom flange forming the base of saidframe, a refractory lining within said frame and having a portion ofsaid lining extending inwardbeyond the flange, the base of said frame.being a. smooth surface adapted to form a metal to metal unluted jointwith the top end of themold and extending substantially to the matrixopening, and means to securely lock the hot top to said mold whereby thehot top and mold may be stripped as'a unit from ingots cast within saidhot top and mold.

I As an article of manufacture, a hot top for ingot molds comprising aunitary supporting shell, a unitary flange extending inwardly andcomprising the base portion of said shell, 21 lining of fire-brickmounted within said shell and resting upon said flange face adapted tobe clamped to a suitable ingot mold to form a tight metal to metal jointto prevent the formation of a fin between said hot top and said moldwhen said hot top is used for casting steel ingots.

8. In combination a cast iron ingot mold adapted for casting steelingot-s and provided with a machined substantially horizontal seatingsurface on the mouth thereof extending to the matrix of the mold, a hottop member comprising a metal shell provided on its base with aninwardlyextending flange with the bottom of said flange being a machined surfacecomprising a tight metal to metal joint with the seating surface on theend of the mold, a lining of refractory brick within said shell, andlocking devices securely clamping said flange to the mouth of the ingotmold and compressing the bottom surface on said flange tightly against amachined surface on the end of said mold to prevent formations of finsin the joint between the hot top and the mold'when a steel ingot is castin said hot topand mold,'said locking means being sov interlockedwiththe mold and the hot top to prevent lateral displacement of the lockingmeans whereby said mold and hot top may be used as a. unit for aplurality of heats without removing said hot top from said mold.

9. The combination of an ingot mold having a substantially plane seatingsurface formed on the mouth thereof and extending to the matrix thereof,a hot top member comprising a metal shell having a flange on the basethereof with the base of said flange formed with a substantially planeseating surface adapted tocooperate with the plane seating surface onthe mouth of the mold, refractory brick mounted lengthwise within saidshell, and interlocking means between said hot top and said mold tosecurely clamp theseating surface on the bottom of said flange directlyagainst the seating surface on the end of the mold, said locking meansbeing constructed, to prevent lateral displacement thereof whereby saidhot top and mold may be used for a pluralityof heats without theseparation of the hot top from the mold. y

'10. The combination of a cast iron ingot mold for casting steel ingotsha-vi'nga smooth seating surface formed on the mouth thereof with theseating surface extending to the llu matrix of the mold, hot topcomprising a metal shell having a .flange on the base thereof, thebottom of said flange being provided with a smooth seating surfaceadapted to contact directly with the seating surface on the end of themold, refractory bricks mounted.within'said shell, and lockingmeans' toclamp the seating surface-on the bottom of said flange tightlyagainstthe seating surface on the end of'said mold, said looking means beingconstructed. to prevent lateral displacement of the locking means duringthe handling of said mold and hot top lar seat on its upper end, saidseat extending inwardly to the ingot forming chamber of the mold; incombination with a hot top comprising a one piece cast metal casing witha pair of vertically spaced annular flanges, both extending inwardly andthe lowermost one positioned at the bottom of the casing, a lining ofrefractory bricks set between said flanges and permanently cemented inplace with high temperature cement, the 'lower portion of saidhot tophaving a smooth annular surface complementary to said seat and formingtherewith a metal to metal joint extending substantially to the ingotforming chamber of the mold with no interior portions of the hot toplocated below they lowermost portion of said seat, and means to lock thehot top to the mold whereby the organization may be used for a pluralityof heats without removal from the mold.

WILLIAM HAIG RAMAGE.

